Chapter 63: Linger
Lady Stephanie’s lips parted open, then closed again—she hadn’t expected the Queen to figure it out. That was the last thing she had imagined.
’Was it that obvious?’ she wondered.
Ariana could tell. She knew that expression too well. It was the same look she had worn that night in bed—the night before her wedding to Fredrick. She had forced herself not to cry, knowing if she did, her face would be swollen the next day. She had buried everything inside, just to survive. And now, she could see that same pain mirrored in this lady’s face.
"H-How did you know?" Stephanie asked, surprised, her voice soft.
Without a word, she handed Ariana the book. Ariana calmly scribbled something down, and Stephanie waited eagerly. Her face slowly brightened as her eyes scanned the queen’s neat writing. A smile tugged at her lips. She hadn’t expected the queen to be so kind... so gentle. And to think—she even let her use her shoulder to cry on.
Very unexpected.
Ariana held up the book again, and Lady Stephanie read:
I was once in your shoes, dear. Trust me, running won’t help—where would you even go? This life may seem hard, but it’s still a good one. You just have to speak up. I know it’s scary, but have you tried telling her how you feel?
The lady shook her head slowly.
"I was scared... scared she’d be disappointed. But now that I think of it—I haven’t even tried," she admitted softly, turning to Ariana and gently holding her hand. "Thank you so much, Queen."
Ariana nodded, though a flicker of doubt crossed her heart.